Hosiery form



'July 7, 1931. W. J DE Wm 1,818,388

HOSIERY FORM Filed March 16. 1929 '4 .Zawenfov Patented, `uly 7, 14931' i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAI J. DE WITT, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 SHEIFORM C0. INC., 0F AUBURN, NEW`YORX, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK HOSIERY FORM Application filed March 16, 1929. Serial No. 847,691. l,

This invention pertains to forms for use in displa ing hosiery or inspecting it for defects. n accordance with the present invention I provide a form of a suitable material over which the stocking may be smoothly and tautly drawn and which is thus adapted to exhibit the color, shape, style and texture of the stocking. Preferably this form is transparent, either colorless or tinted, as desired, thus permitting the ready transmission of light through both stocking and form or the reflection of light from the surface of the form, which facilitates detection of defacts such as incipient runs, knots, or uneven` texture, while at the same time displaying the fineness and sheerness of the material to the best advantage. For such uses, and particularly when employed by a salesman in demonstrating the uality of the stocking to a customer, it is highly desirable that the form be more or less flexible. to facilitate application of the stocking thereto; that it be substantially infrangible so that if dropped or accidentally tipped over it will not break easily; it should be light in weight to facilitate handling and so that if accidentally tipped over it will not necessarily break glass showcases or the like with which it comes into contact; it should be of a material such that it will not scratch la cases or counters upon which it may. set; it should be of such character that, even if injured by excessively rough handling, it will not present sharp edges to cut the stocking; preferably it should be of relatively thin material and so shaped as to extend the stocking fabric in two parallel planes, thereby facilitating the stretching of the fabric, outwardly beyond the form if desired, to facilitate close examination of the pattern or texture; and it should be capable. of manufacture at low cost and of shipment without especial precaution against injury.

v In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the completed form, showing a stocking mounted thereon but partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the form of Fig. 1, illustrating its flexibility;

erably employ Celluloid as the material for i ,use in making the form, conveniently using sheet Celluloid of proper thickness, for example about one-eighth of an inch, which I [ind to give good results. From such sheet material, by the use of proper patterns, dies, or the like., I cut the foot portion 1 and leg portion 2 of the form, preferably as an integral member from a single piece of the sheet material. I also repare a base member 3, here shown as circular, although theparticular contour is not essential, and I prefer to make this base member of the same material, for example Celluloid, and of the same thickness as the leg portion of the form. Whatever the contour of this base member, it should be of suiicient extent to provide a stable support for the leg form when mounted thereon. In making the. leg form as well as the base I prefer to employ transparent celluloid and may, i'f desired, employ colored celluloid, as for example Celluloid tintedto simulate the coloration of the skin. If such tinting be desired, it may extend through the entire thickness of the. material or may formv merely a film upon its outer surface produced in any desired manner. Preferably, the material selected has a smooth, highly reflecting surface in addition to its transparency.

After preparing the leg an base members I finish the edges 5 and 6 of the leg and base members, at least, by scraping, abrasion, or the like, or preferably by moistening and rubbing them with a Celluloid solvent, for exam*- ple acetone, which softens and smooths them, leaving rounded corners which do not cut the stocking. If desired, although unnecessary, these smoothed edgesma-y be further finished by polishing to enhance their appearance. This edge finishing may be done either before joining the leg and base or after they are united, as preferred.

The top edge, that is to say, the edge atthe larger or thigh end 4 of the le member,

is now made soft and adhesive, either by the application of a celluloid cement or conveniently by wetting the edge with a celluloid 5 solvent, and this edge is then arranged substantally diametrically of the base, with the leg member substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base, and the parts are clamped or otherwise held in contact and under pressure until the adhesive has set. The leg and base are thus integrally united so rmly that even though the leg portion be bent or iiexed sharply and frequently it does not loosen or break away from the base. If desired the under surface of the base may be provided with a soft covering layer such, for exam le, as felt, flannel, or the like, although th1s is not necessary and for most purposes I prefer to leave the base with its full transparency unimpaired.

The form thus produced is light in weight, flexible, easy to handle, and substantially unbreakable. The hosiery salesman finds this device highly useful as a means for demonstrating the perfection of a stocking to a customer since it may be handled without fear of breakage and may be flexed or bent, if desired, to facilitate drawing the stocking over it or to show the varying eifects of light upon the surface texture of the stocking at different degrees of curvature. Itis also useful as a Window or counter display form since it is stable and not easily upset, and even if tipped over does not break, or cause serious damage to its surroundings, while its transparency adapts it to use with lamps or other illuminants for accentuating the luster of the fabric and the delicacy of its texture.

This form is easy and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, if chipped or cracked by abusive treatment it does not present cutting edges and may be repaired and smoothed by the use of acetone or the like, and it may be shipped without especial precaution to avoid brea age.

While I have illustrated my invention as embodied in a form intended for use with a ladys stocking, it is obvious that a form of similar character may be made of proper dimensions to accommodate mens or childrens stockings, and while I have illustrated the device as consisting of a single sheet of celluloid, I contemplate that it may be made of a laminated material if for any reason such should be desirable.

I claim:

1. A hosiery form comprising a foot and leg portion of stiflly resilient sheet material and a base upon which the portion is supported, with the foot end free to move relativeto the base, whereby the portion may be iiexed to demonstrate the appearance of a piece of hosiery slipped thereon under varying conditions. e5 2. A hosiery form comprising a foot and 

